Aylesbury Ducks

Facts about Aylesbury Ducks. The Aylesbury Ducks came to existence back in the 18th century in Aylesbury and Buckinghamshire in England. The Aylesbury Ducks are very large domesticated ducks. In the 18th century they bred them because there was a high demand for white feathers.

The Aylesbury ducks have a pure white plumage, bright orange legs and feet. The shape of their body looks like a boat because the legs are placed midway along the body. The neck is long and thin with a long straight pink bill and the body is parallel to the ground.

Raising the Aylesbury Duck started in the 18th century where farmers would buy eggs from breeders. Then they would place them in a brooding hen and allow them to hatch. After hatching, the ducklings were kept in small groups and fed. For the first week Aylesbury ducks were fed with boiled rice and eggs. From the second week the meal was replaced by heavier meals to allow sufficient growth. These diets contained high proteins, lettuce and cabbage to ensure that the diet was balanced. Grit was provided to make sure that the foods were well digested. This is how the Aylesbury Ducks multiplied.

The Aylesbury Ducks are related to swans and geese and the duck is the smallest of these birds with shorter wings and neck and a stocky body. Aylesbury Ducks on average, live 4 to 8 years and can live up to 12 years, depending on the breed. Aylesbury Ducks are omnivores; meaning - an animal that eats food of both animal and plant and origin.

The Aylesbury Duck would fatten at a very fast rate, when they are eight weeks they weight is 5 pounds (2.2 kg). The average growth for both genders is the same and you will be realize by the time they celebrate their first birthday they both weigh 7 pounds (3.1 kg). But in general the males weigh up to 10 pounds (4.3 kg) in maturity.

The Aylesbury Duck is a Precocial (meaning) Born or hatched with the eyes open, a covering of hair or down, capable of a high degree of independent activity from birth and able to leave the nest just a few hours after hatching.

Scientific name for Aylesbury Duck "Anas Platyrhynchos" meaning - Wild dabbling duck from which domestic ducks are descended; widely distributed. From New Latin "anas" meaning (Duck) and the word Platyrhynchos comes from "platyrrhine", Ancient Greek meaning (broad snouted, flat-bridged nose).
Aylesbury Ducks are birds in the Class of "Aves". Aylesbury Ducks and ducks of all types are part of the bird family "Anatidae". Aylesbury Ducks are also called "waterfowls" they are generally found in places were there is water, such as ponds, rivers, streams, lakes and occasionally your back yard pool. The definition of Anatidaephobia is irrational fear that you are being watched by a duck.

The Aylesbury ducks are raised in homes and farms by most people. They love their white color which makes them look beautiful and clean. In most homes especially in Buckinghamshire you will find the Aylesbury Duck kept in the sitting rooms and bedroom.

The male adult Aylesbury Duck is called a (drake) and a adult female Aylesbury Duck is called a (hen). A young baby duck is called a (duckling). A group of ducks is called a brace, raft, team, flock, or paddling. The male Aylesbury Ducks (drakes) are the brighter colored ducks while the female (hen) are usually a plain colored for hiding purposes to be camouflaged from their enemies when they are sitting in their nests.

Aylesbury Ducks Water-proof feathers

A special feature that the Aylesbury Duck has is its water-proof feathers, even when the Aylesbury Duck dives underwater, its downy under-layer of feathers will stay totally 100% dry. There is a special gland called the "Preen Gland" also called Oil Gland or Uropygial, that produces oil that is near the duck's tail which covers and spreads the outer coat of the Aylesbury Ducks feathers, which makes the duck water-proof.

Underneath the water-proof coat are downy soft fluffy feathers which keep the Aylesbury Ducks body warm. Aylesbury Duckss keep clean by being able to turn their heads completely backwards, and put their beaks into their feathers by preening themselves.

Features about the Aylesbury Ducks Bill

A "bill" is what is call a Aylesbury Ducks mouth. There are no teeth in the ducks bill, they have rows of thin bristles, which helps them to filter pieces of nutrition out of the water. Aylesbury Ducks swallow there food whole and it goes to an organ called a gizzard, were the food is first ground up and than moves on to the stomach. The different bill shapes and sizes for finding food, has over time mutated to fit each environment. The Aylesbury Ducks bill is flat and broad and has rows of fine incision along the outer edge called "lamellae". meaning a thin membrane, plate, scale or layer, as of cell wall or bone tissue. The larnellae helps the Aylesbury Duck to clutch food for feeding.

Appearance about the Aylesbury Ducks feet

Aylesbury Ducks have webbed feet, that makes them act like paddles, designed for swimming. They push their webbed paddle feet back in a kicking motion, this allows them to move swift through the water and when the feet come back, they will close for less water resistance. The Aylesbury Ducks paddle feet do not feel cold, even when it swims in cold icy water. The webbed feet makes a Aylesbury Duck waddle instead of walk. The Aylesbury Ducks feet have capillaries which help blood flow to their feet. The warm blood flow down the leg and creates a heat exchange system. When the blood flows down the leg, it meets the cold blood and is warmed up to keep the Aylesbury Ducks feet warm. Ducks feet are thin because they contain soft tissue and few muscles.

Aylesbury Ducks see in color with very good vision and can see well underwater. Ducks fly will fly in a “V” shape to makes flying easier.
In captivity ducks will lay more eggs, when there is more daylight, that's why farmers will keep the lights on in the ducks house for longer periods of time.

In the wild male Aylesbury Duck will guard their nest by chasing away other ducks. Once the female duck lays 5 to 8 eggs, she will start to sit on her eggs to keep them warm so that they can hatch into baby Aylesbury ducklings. The eggs will hatch on average within 26 to 28 days. Baby ducklings are able to fly within 5 to 8 weeks. The eggs of the Aylesbury ducks are laid from early November. Incubation takes place for around 28 weeks. After the chicks are hatched, it is very difficult to distinguish male from the females. But after moulting it is easier to distinguish them since the males have three curved tail feathers. They are also huskier than their female Aylesbury Duck.

Features about Duck egg

A Aylesbury Duck egg has twice the nutritional value than a chicken egg and will stay fresh longer because of their thicker shell.
Aylesbury Duck eggs are richer with more Albumen "the white of an egg" making pastries and cakes richer and fluffier. A Aylesbury Duck Egg has more Omega 3 fatty acids than a chicken egg. Omega 3 is thought to improve skin health, memory and Brain health. Aylesbury Duck Eggs are an Alkaline producing food and a Chicken egg is an acid food and leaves your body more acid. Aylesbury Duck eggs are high in Cholesterol. Aylesbury Duck eggs have 6 times the Vitamin D and 2 times the Vitamin A than a chicken egg. Aylesbury Duck eggs have 2 times the cholesterol than a chicken egg.

Aylesbury Ducks have three eyelids the third eyelid called nictitating membrane. They have a top and bottom as well as a third eyelid that is found on the side of the eye. The Aylesbury Ducks eyelid blinking acts as a windshield wiper to clear the eye. This helps to see when diving under water can also help the eye from drying out while flying. This is an act of constantly cleaning and keeping the eye moist.